By Gwurld4026 
IBB’s Insights on Gowon’s Commitment to Igbos
In his newly launched book, Journey in Service, former Nigerian Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), delves into the events leading up to the Nigerian Civil War. He highlights that General Yakubu Gowon’s unfulfilled promise to ensure the safety of Igbos in northern Nigeria was a significant catalyst for the conflict.
Despite Gowon’s assurances, widespread massacres of Igbos occurred in the North, compelling approximately 50,000 Igbos to flee to the Eastern Region by the end of July 1966.
IBB notes that these tragic events, coupled with differing interpretations of political actions, ultimately triggered the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War.
The war, which lasted from 1967 to 1970, remains one of the darkest periods in Nigeria’s history, with lasting impacts on the nation’s socio-political landscape.